Melek in Olum

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NARUTO!!! If I did do you really think I'd write this when I could
draw?!
Parings: NarutoxSasuke, later on Sakura+Lee
Warning: Lemon in later chapters... mature themes
Story: Everyone knows him as a chunin working at a raman shop, the silent, patient Naruto that
could never pass the jouinin exams...but when things start happening to ninja's with the blood
limit Sharingian, Sasuke soon learns that Naruto isn't who he thought he was...

Author's Note: Wow... sorry for the really long wait but work ties me up most of the time. But
the overwhelming response to this piece is a great sign! I'll defiantly try too work more on this
story, I have plenty ideas for this one! Anyway thanks too everyone who likes this! And now o-
*smash*.... gomen T o_@....

Melek in Olum

Mission II: Shadows at Midnight

~*~*~*~*~


"Thank you, please come again..." Ushering the last patrons out the door, Naruto carefully locked
the it behind the customers before clearing away all the dishes. "So Sasuke's standing there
glaring at the women because she had said the mission was A but, all we had to do was find this
ring she'd lost..." Smiling slightthe the large blonde glanced over at the single occupied booth in
the corner. Sakura was relating her and Sasuke's latest mission to a very amused Iruka and
Kakashi. Sasuke smiling as well, adding bits here and there.

Shaking his head, Naruto returned to the task at hand happy to have his friends back safe and
sound. Unable to resist, a single blue eye wandered over to the happily laughing dark haired
shinobi. He knew Sasuke was able to take care of himself but Naruto always worried when the
dark haired beauty left... "So Sasuke says 'You know where you can put that ring-'" interrupting,
Sasuke blinked innocently, "It was a viable suggestion... even if it was physically impossible..."
The other occupants of the table snorted in laughter.

Finished cleaning up, Naruto carried over drinks, placing the tray on the table. He took a seat
next to Sasuke, slouching slightly to get his large frame to a more comfortable position. "So
Naruto-kun, anything exciting happen while we were gone?" Smiling slightly, the tall blonde
sipped his water, "No..." frowning, Iruka glanced at the tall teen, "That's not true Naruto, why
don't you tell them about saving the little girl..." Two sets of eyes fastened on the suddenly
uncomfortable chunin, "It was nothing". Sasuke opened his mouth to say more when a sudden
pounding at the front door distracted everyone present.

Wondering you could be wanting in so badly, Naruto unlocked the door, coming face-to-face
with a distraught looking Rock Lee. "Naruto, have you seen Sasuke and Sakura?" Nodding, the
blonde waved the distraught teen in before motioning the spandex clad boy to follow. "Lee?
What's going on?" Sasuke eyed the older jouinin curiously. "Haven't you guys heard? The whole
town is up in arms about it!" Breathing heavily, the ninja blushed faintly "Sakura-chan..."
Sighing, Naruto gently pushed the glossy haired teen into the booth, "Breathe, talk..." Muttering,
Lee conceded, "Well you guys know Deven, Ilma, and Greg, right?" Five heads nodded,
"They're fairly new jouinin... good kids very promising", Iruka added his two cents.

Shaking his head, Lee continued, "Those three were on this mission, with another team and
well... according to the other team the mission was supposed to be easy. It was only a B, but the
whole thing was a trap and all three were killed..." The silence was thick before Lee continued,
"There were over a hundred rouge ninja's there... waiting. Deven, Ilma and Greg held them off
long enough for the other team to escape... but it was too much for only three jouinins alone..."
Silence reined once more before Naruto's soft tone broke it, " Go tell at Sparta, thou that passest
by, that here obedient to her word we lie" [1]

Shivering slightly Sakura hugged herself, "What does that mean?" Shaking his head sadly,
Naruto sat down beside Kakashi. "It's a rather obscure historical reference to a band of few who
fought overwhelming odds..." Irkura answered. "So what are we going to do about it?" Sasuke
was furious, action needed to be taken for their fallen comrades. "I heard the Hokage was going
to ask 'him'..." Sasuke crossed his arms, "I highly doubt that 'he' even exists, the stories are just
too far fetched". Sighing, Sakura rolled her eyes, "Don't you have a romantic bone in your body?
Of course 'he' exists! 'He' has too!" the pink haired girl thumped the table for emphasis.

For close to five years stories had been circulating throughout the land about a mysterious ninja.
No one knew what he or she looked like, but the tales were fast becoming legends. The legend is
said to be a member of the Leaf village but anyone had yet to prove the person really lived. For a
long time everyone secretly thought it was Sasuke, him being the best ninja in the area, but the
idea quickly died out. Everyone just wanted a faceless protector.

"Still what are we going to do?" Sasuke wasn't holding his breath over the supposed 'hero' of
the village. "Nothing..." Naruto had been silent through the conversation, everyone assumed he'd
fallen asleep. The teen had a habit of doing that. "There is nothing we can do tonight, I'm sure
the Hokage will inform us of his decision soon enough..." Smirking slightly, Kakashi glanced at
the large teen beside him, "Oi, when did you grow up?" Smiling faintly, the single visible blue
eye closed, "I always was..."

They five talked late into the night speaking on every topic from politics to philosophy. Naruto
remained silent throughout, all the time unobservedly watching Sasuke. If someone were to ask
him the exact moment he'd fallen in love with the normally cold shinobi, Naruto wouldn't be
able to answer. It had been almost gradual. Sasuke had been the first to care about him. The first
to not turn away in hate. Naruto wasn't sure if he was gay or not, the only person he'd ever been
attracted too 'like that' was Sasuke. Of course in his youth he'd asked Sakura out a million times,
but all that had been a desperate plea for attention... for someone to notice him.

All he knew these days was he was head over heels in love with the most wanted ninja in the
entire village and he didn't have a chance. Sure they were the best of friends, and he knew for a
fact Sasuke was straight as an arrow... hell he'd even consoled the teen after a particularly nasty
breakup. Sasuke's relationships never seemed to work out, all the girls who went out with him
were usually looking for a trophy boyfriend more interested with hisearaearance and not his
personality. Yet another baffling facet to the already perfect ninja was his change in attitude, he
was more open, more friendly. It had to be Sakura's influence.

Yawning, said green eyed female stretched, "Well guys I think it's time I hit the sac, it's been a
while since I've slept in a nice bed..." Quickly standing, Lee moved to follow the female ninja
out, "Allow me to walk you home Sakura-chan..." blushing, the busy eyebrowed ninja in green
spandex held the door for the love of his life. "Well I should be off as well... sounds like
tomorrow is going to be rather eventful..." Similarly, Iruka left followed by a very thoughtful
Kakashi.

Turning out the lights, Naruto and Sasuke headed out into the night as well. The two walked in
companionable silence all the way to Sasuke's apartment. "Glad your back Sasuke..." Naruto
smiled down at his dark haired love, "Thanks Naruto...good-night." Blushing faintly, the number
one ninja of the Leaf village stumbled through his door, "Goodnight..." The tall blonde waited till
he heard the lock on the door slide into place before making his way back to the street.

The evening had been eventful, and sadly Uzamaki Naruto knew it wasn't over yet... but first a
quick stop...

~*~*~*~

Something was happening. Something big and ominous was getting ready to rear it's ugly head
and the Hokage was not happy. He'd spent the better part of the day finding out just what had
happened from the witnesses. Unfortunately they had reported their horrific tale with the parents
and family of the deceased in the room. They called for blood.

Sighing sadly the Hokage lit his pipe. This... this was going to be a hard order to fill. As if
summoned, a large figure clad entirely in black materialized silently from the shadows. "I
suppose you heard..." the figure nodded, "They want revenge, and they want it fast. I told them
I'd get my best man on it... I'm sorry Naruto but this might just be the hardest mission to date..."
the dark figure moved forward into the small circle of candlelight, "I'm sure I've had worse..."

Suppressing his shudder, the older man looked the boy over. Baggy black pants with numerous
pockets containing god knows what, black turtleneck with sleeves stopping at the elbows where
the rest of the sleeve was attached with clips, bare feet and a six foot sword strapped to the broad
back. Even after half a decade the sight of the large ninja in battle mode was both fearsome and
awing.

"That's not all... they want a collection..." arching a golden brow Naruto smiled grimly, "What
do they want?" Shifting slightly, the Hokage looked everywhere but at the teen in front of him,
"They want ears, one from each present... making it a hundred all together ". Snorting softly the
black clad figure shook his head, "At least it's not as bad as the lady wanting those four guys pe-
" The Hokage held up his hands in surrender, "I remember... anyway as usual do what you have
to do... oh and I think we need to insure this will never happen again. Make sure you headband is
in plain sight, show them who they're dealing with..."

Grinning again, the large blonde added the final piece to his fearsome countenance, an unusual
mask to say the least. Two wide black strips of cloth with zippers running down the middle were
fastened over his eyes and mouth, leaving only his nose and small strip of skin in between
revealed. The two pieces of cloth were attached with a buckle that fastened at the back of the
teens head. A simple ninjutsu and normally bright yellow hair was black as pitch, before being
almost completely covered by the traditional leaf head protector.

It seemed as though the temperature in the room had dropped, and the Hokage was staring death
in the face. Nodding slightly the younger man once more melted into the shadows, disappearing
so easily. Waiting silently a while longer the Hokage finally sighed heavily before burring his
face in his hands, what had he done? What had happened to the happy, smiling Naruto that had
been the bain of his existence?

He knew deep down what he'd done, he had forced a child to grow up before there time. It had
been five years since he'd in essence 'created' Naruto to be the perfect ninja... a killing machine
that only he could control. It had been never ending stream of missions that called for the best of
the best. Missions that had a 100% suicide rate. Yet he'd managed them all, that boy that
everyone hated and loathed...they still despise him today, even though they unknowingly whisper
reverently of his legendary deeds... Uzamaki Naruto was a hero plain and simple... and only the
Hokage knew it.

Rubbing his face tiredly, the most esteemed ninja of the Leaf village stared at the flickering
candle light. The real question was how long would it all last?

~*~*~*~*~

With practiced grace, the dark shadow leapt easily from house top to house top, large sword
occasionally glittering in the pale moon light. The faceless shadow had one destination in mind...

Halting suddenly, on the roof of one of the many apartment buildings, Naruto swung onto the top
most balcony. As predicted the large sliding glass door was open, allowing the soft night breeze
to caress the figure sleeping within. Ever silent, the dangerous ninja treaded softly over to the
slumbering figure, ethereal pale in the moon rays. Gently, calloused fingers traced the soft skin of
the sleeping beauties face... it was tradition. Every time Naruto was to leave on a mission he
stopped by to say farewell to Sasuke, a ritual years old yet only the deepest hours of the night
knew of it's life.

A gentle touch of fingers over cool skin... the brief touch of lips... and the silent retreat of the
shadow from the room.

Quietly as he had come, Naruto once more swung out into the night, "Be safe Sasuke..." turning
from the only thing that kept him sane, the once cheerful teen sped off into the woods at an
astonishing pace. Honour bound to fulfill the task before him.

Back in the bedroom, sleepy crimson eyes opened slightly, he had that dream again... a touch, so
gentle it was hardly felt... yet deep down Sasuke felt the warmth from the contact. The beauty.
The pain. The love. Deep red eyes closed again in blissful surrender welcoming dreams of strong
hands and a warm smile.

TBC...

[1] This is an actual quote an epith at the pass at Thermopolyce (located in Greece). 300 Sparta
soldiers held off the entire Persian army long enough for the Athenian soldiers to return to warn
Athens of the attack

~*~*~*~
T: o.O
Katie: What's with the obscure history refrences?
samptra: meh...
Jay: Baka...
samptra: meh...
D: mmmm... marshmellows....
samptra: o.O
T: ~_~
All: oh yeah...